The cafe and cupcake place is tiny but not cramped. Their tables for dining customers are on the second floor which allots more space for these chillers here.

Cliche – but it did not disappoint the first time. The second time. Oh, my, I lost count.

The red velvet cupcakes from Cupcaken Cebu are the shop’s bestselling flavors. They have the Banana and Choco Chip (another favorite of mine – not in photo), Chocolate Overload and Blueberry. Each cupcake has its own cupcake box so whenever you feel like dropping by and just biting on one cupcake only. Next set of boxes would be for 6 and the biggest for one dozen. Don’t you just wish you have unlimited self-storage and stock all these cupcakes without spoiling? Wishful thinking!

photo (above) taken from their Facebook page

They are open 9AM – 10MN weekdays and 9am-11PM. However, Cupcaken closes on Sundays. I asked them about that and they said, “Its the Lord’s day on Sundays. We have to rest.” Fair enough. Even God rested his sweet tooth on Sundays. If ever a Cupcaken craving kicks in, visit Tea Religion at Mabolo and they have Cupcaken cupcakes on display. They usually replenish the cupcakes every Monday so it is never a guarantee that red velvets are available.

CUPCAKEN CEBU
Located at R. Duterte St., beside Nuat Thai in Banawa, Cebu City
Tel. # 032-479-9466
Email: cupcakencebu@gmail.com
www.cupcakenpastries.com
Parking – Yes
Wifi – Yes
Cash/Credit – Cash only

Dubbed as the dessert on fire, this sizzling treat is sure to please foodies all around! The hotel’s newest dessert offering heats up the plate with its divine dessert offering. With creations by renowned French Pastry Chef, Daniel Lajoux, the flambé is another Waterfront must-try and is a refreshing signature dish at the Lobby Lounge.

The Lobby Lounge serves up the heat daily with a variety of five (5) flambé selections; one variety is available per day. Head on over to Waterfront and try these fruit inspired flambé, perfect for this tropical season – Vanilla and Passion Fruit Crêpe, pancake with passion fruit frost; Apple-Mango Tango, fresh apple-mango caramelized with sugar and caramel sauce, infused with rhum; Pineapple Passion, roasted pineapple with caramel sauce topped with vanilla ice cream. For the ice cream aficionados, try Crêpe Suzette, pancake topped with vanilla ice cream or Sweet Surprise, 4 layers of ice cream sorbet served with caramelized fruit infused with Malibu liqueur.

Bring an exciting new twist to your dessert experience in CEBU and let the flambé fill your appetite for good food and superb entertainment. You can enjoy the flambé of the day at these times, 10:30 AM until 1:00 AM.

Wine lovers, delight! Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino’s Lobby Lounge has a new treat that’s perfect for wine aficionados in town. To match its modern new look, the Lobby Lounge introduces the Enomatic Elite Wine dispenser as an innovative twist on wine service as it allows guests to indulge in a wide array of world-class wines.

The state-of-the-art wine dispenser offers guests a more satisfying wine experience now with a variety of three wine quantities made available. With this latest enchantment, diners can now opt to taste (25 ml), or guests may go for half a glass (60 ml) before deciding to order a full glass or a bottle of the wine that best suits their palate.

The Enomatic Elite holds 8 bottles of first-class wines which are expected to be replaced every 3 months. The current selection comprises mostly of 5 red wines, coupled with 2 white wines, plus a refreshing addition of 1 rosé wine.

Relive the splendor and grace of the old English days with the Afternoon Tea at the Lobby Lounge. Along with its new façade, the recently renovated Lobby Lounge introduces another first with their latest tea and dessert concept. The gourmet outlet offers guests unique ways to enjoy their cup of tea. Take your tea experience to a whole new level and enjoy an array of snack choices to complement your perfect choice of tea. Choose from Traditional Afternoon Tea with a Local Twist or Chocolate Temptations and take pleasure in the variety of luscious snack options to go along with your choice of tea beverage.

Go for Traditional Afternoon Tea with a Local Twist and take your pick from a selection of finger sandwiches – apple tuna with lemon mayonnaise on cheese cream puff, beef and vegetable empanada, freshly-baked warm raisin scones, Devonshire cream, or homemade strawberry and mango jam. You also get to choose from freshly-brewed loose leaf tea only by world-renowned tea brand, TWG, or coffee.

If chocolate is more your thing, opt for Chocolate Temptations and indulge in a unique afternoon tea offering with mouthwatering chocolate-based desserts inspired by the seven deadly sins. Decide from a selection of dark chocolate ginger cream on chocolate bread, freshly-baked warm chocolate raisin scones, chocolate Devonshire cream, or homemade strawberry and mango preserve. Top it off with our own selection of sinfully good desserts – Pride: Chocolate Marquise, Envy: Brandy Chocolate Ball, Lust: Chocolate Royale Cake, Gluttony: Chocolate Caramel Walnut Tart, Greed: Chocolate Religieuse, Sloth: Raspberry White Chocolate, and Wrath: Chocolate Banana Macaroon. Finish it off with your choice of freshly-brewed loose leaf tea, coffee or hot chocolate. (press release)

For inquiries or reservations, call 232 6888 local 8600. Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino is located in Salinas Drive, Lahug.

Linea, from the Spanish word, “to line up”, employs countless kinds of international dishes from salad to pasta purveyed by Chef Jimmy Durano’s spotless kitchen that get much of the credit for satisfying  countless of hungry diners. Situated at the ground floor of eBloc Tower 1 (where JP Morgan is located), CEBU IT Park, Linea Restaurant and Lounge is the perfect venue to experience European, Asian and Mexican Cuisines in a classy setting but at very reasonable prices.

Their budget meals (photo below) are from P150-200

“I wanted people to taste the natural flavors of healthy food,” says Jimmy. “Some dishes are made from ingredients I carefully selected myself.”
Taking the German concept of dining to its inevitable apotheosis, Jimmy— who honed his skills as a chef in Germany, then went on to earn instant acclaim for his open kitchen status and opened to great fanfare in late 2011— has shown not only his expertise in the knives and dishes but is also willing to share his gift to aspiring chefs in Cebu. The former chef of 5-Star hotel Opel will be holding culinary classes every Monday from 1pm-5pm and 6-11pm batch.

“Students will be learning all kinds of international dishes from German to Thai Food to Spanish,” Jimmy said. “I do not want them to just concentrate on one dish only.” The 4-hour session will cover everything from basic kitchen maintenance to cooking to cleaning up and the students couldn’t find a more inexpensive treat that starts from 1500 and above per class.

I know what its like to be a student already! Having fun!

Linea Restaurant and Lounge is the perfect venue to enjoy a variety of cuisines for families and friends. With personalized service and also a variety of cocktails to choose from, Chef Jimmy himself will personally attend to your dining needs.

Visit Linea’s website at http://www.linearestobar.com/. The lounge is open from 10am-2am and 6pm-2am. (Article originally written by me, might be published in other dailies and blogs)

Coy started off with their Caesar Salad (P180) – normaine lettuce, croutons, homemade Caesar and dressing while Norman had their homemade silky smooth Tomato Soup with grilled cheese sandwhich  – very filling quite a meal itself!

I tried their hand-cut double fried Truffle Fries (P250) and Truffle Pesto Pasta in butter and Evoo and parmesan cheese (P250) and it was simply divine!

The pesto was not that strong and I can savour every truffle flavour laced in the spaghetti. Being such a huge fan of anything truffle, Irie certainly indulged my truffle obsession! The price is not that bad considering how sought after truffle pasta is — because you can hardly find it anywhere! Jan Rodriguez, the man behind the menu, says he has his sources. Ah, how resourceful he is!

Ethy on the other hand tried their Angus Kebab (P180), angus tenderloin beef skewered with onions, bell pepper, mushrooms and tomato. It goes with rice and garlic yoghurt. Dom had Irie’s bestselling Irie Burger (see below).

Our dessert? At I Heart Tea Cebu! Watch out for separate post on that! Thanks Coy for hosting these diners <3

To learn more about Irie and get real time updates, follow them in Twitter @Irie_Gastropubliko and Facebook/Irie.Gastropubliko. They are open 24 hours daily. Irie is located at Skyrise 4, West IT Park across Yellow Cab and beside Chicken and Beer/RCBC/Coffee Dream.

93^rd and 1^st Bar Lounge now serves authentic Japanese food at very affordable prices. With the imprint of Cebu’s sought-after Joed’s Lutong Hapon, 9rd and 1^st should be your next chow destination. The sushi-craving gastronomes will enjoy the Sukiyaki Don, Beef Kimchi, Flaming Salmon Roll and their best sellers’, The Volcano Roll and Crunchy Crazy Maki.

The bar cum restaurant decided to rebrand and made over their interiors to make diners want to stay longer and hangout more. “The renovation only took 5 days,” says Paolo Mendoza, one of the young entrepreneurs running 93^rd and 1^st.

He added a vintage look yet homey vibe to the interiors by injecting in memorabilia’s of his parent’s past life like the vinyl records and old books.

[Showing you photos from my last visit, thanks to Paolo for the invite!]

With a new menu based on fresh ingredients, dining customers in Ayala will surely appreciate this authentic Japanese treat . Their bestseller, The Volcano Roll (below), is a huge hit!

This Summer, 93^rd and 1^st is offering a P200 Drink All You Can on Vodka Sprite from 3-8pm. Watch out for BARFIGHTS at the 93^rd and 1^st coming soon. 93^rd and 1^st is located at the 4/F Ayala Terraces Cebu (on top of Yellow Cab). For reservations, call 4163950.

This quaint-looking shop boasts an excellent, cozy ambiance for families who want a quiet time together, couples who are on romantic dates, and yuppies/teenagers/groupies who wish to catch-up all day long, while enjoying delicious dishes that can be shared together.

Located at the very heart of Cebu (#68 Don Gil Garcia St. Capitol Site 6000, Cebu City, Philippines), the restaurant is easily accessible from people working around the areas of Cebu Doctors, Provincial Capitol Building, and even those living within the vicinity.

Contrary to initial perceptions that the dishes in “One Claypot House” are a bit pricy because of the look-and-feel of the place, the meals here are all affordable. Per meal, prices range from P120.00 to P180.00 which is comparable to most restaurants out there.

Head cook/Owner and Cebu-based, Winston Desierto

When you visit, the must-try dishes include the famous “Lah-Lah-Lah Claypot” (Claypot Rice) from Singapore which mixes rice, a staple of most Southeast Asian countries, and pork/chicken and Chinese sausages. Other favorites are: Thailand’s “Sawasdee Noodle Salad” (Glass Noodles) which suits those who wish to try out a sweet-soury-and-spicy noodles; Malaysia’s “Milky Fried Fish Soup,” a healthy, milky soup perfect for health buffs; the “Tempting Seafood Pasta” and the “Super Meatballs” to answer various Pinoys’ pasta cravings.

Come by the restaurant to experience a yummy time! To make reservations, call: +63908-2791498. Opening Hours: Mondays to Saturdays (closed on Sundays) from 10 A.M. till 10 P.M. Facebook: www.facebook.com/claypothousecebu Address: #68 Don Gil Garcia St., Capitol Site 6000, Cebu City, Philippines. Email: oneclaypothouse@gmail.com

Just when I was practically near puking point to getting all sick of practically everything take away and deliveries in my arsenal of take away/delivery brochures (ha, $20 says you also keep one yourself!), I just got word that Sumo Sam, Japanese-American delight now offers delivery services FREE to selected locations -

Ayala Business Park
IT Park
Escario
Gorordo
Mabolo
Juan Luna

Contact (032) 401-0643 or 0917-7957562 for a legendary Japanese dining experience. A delivery fee of P50 applies for deliveries outside of the selected areas and below the minimum purchase of P800. Delivery Hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. A preview of what is going to greet you at your doorstep in the future -

Sumo Sam’s Ozuyaki Beef Roll

The first ever Japanese restaurant to deliver, SumoSam is sure to satisfy your Japanese cuisine cravings. Feast on the restaurant’s unique take on steaks, seafood and sushi at home, in the office or just about anywhere. Enjoy delectable delights for the whole family from authentic noodles, ramen, donburi and signature Wagyu dishes, classic tempura and sashimi, healthy options such as salads, tofu and seafood to fusion dishes such as pizza, all made of only the freshest and best quality ingredients.

Sumo Sam’s Beef Teppan – a HUGE FAVORITE OF MINE! Get get get!

Happy birthday Noodles!

Sumo Sam’s Tofu Steak

Sumo Sam’s Wasabi Salmon Cream

Cap off the meal with a selection of mouthwatering desserts. For parties, SumoSam delivers regular and large-sized party platters of assorted rolls, sushi and sashimi for up to 20 persons. All these sumptuous treats are simply just a phone call away. It’s the ultimate dining experience without having to brave the traffic, making it convenient and stress-free.

SumoSam Cebu is located at the ground floor of The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu (beside TGIF) and is open from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, Monday to Sunday. SumoSam also accepts catering, functions and private events. Like us on Facebook.com/ilovesumosamcebu or follow SumoSam on Twitter @ilovesumosam.

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**photos by SUMO SAM l unless otherwise stated. Reproduction without consent is not allowed.

An excerpt from my article in The Freeman that was published last Feb. 29:

As if you are reading their menu straight off from a Greenbelt establishment, the varied cuisine caters to discerning palates of epicureans from salads to all 12 kinds of meat.

We started off with tomato soup and the restaurant’s famous Epic Salad or an array of mixed greens with sliced grapes, walnuts and parmesan in simple balsamic vinaigrette.

Main dishes also arrived in tandem with our mocktails. Our Grilled Blue Marlin with Mango Salsa just came with the Epic Braised Lamb Shank, and Epic’s Buffalo Wings in epic proportions!

These beach grill favorites have the stamp World Grill on them.

Now besides eating with a group, the rule to eating Epic’s buffalo wings, a paragon of bar-food excellence, should be addressed cautiously with every wing-eating encounter. Although sucking sauce off your fingers means you severely enjoyed the subject of passionate devotion for all Wing-ist, eating Epic’s Buffalo wings is a hot business and sometimes sweating ensures. But then again every wing that followed, however spicy, tasted good if not great.

Long, slow and braised lamb shanks also became our perfect comfort food when the month of February signaled chilly nights. It was perhaps the perfect season to be in the island because after having a go at Epic’s take on the braised lamb shank, we needed a new word for “succulent” after Epic owned, stamped and patented it already. A taste will accent myriad looks from eyes rolling over to the obscene because nothing here is mediocre, folks.

Ma. Angeles F. Valencerina, or better known as Chef Anj Valencerina heads the Epic World Grill kitchen and a specialization in Fusion and Western cuisine made her an expert in the rich flavors of Asia by using western techniques. These cuisines plus efficient staff service propel Epic Boracay farther into undeniable dining popularity. Your dining experience will be truly remarkable.

Babe, moi and my good friend now turned island girl, Ronarons!

The restaurant turns into a dance bar at night and when the lights dim, Epic transforms into a world bar atmosphere with resident djs spinning house and R&B music. Fortify with alcohol to spice up your island life. Who knows – we might end up subsisting in it.

EPIC BORACAY is located at Beachfront Phase 4, D’Mall Balabag, Boracay Island Malay, Aklan, Philippines. Operating hours are from Monday to Sunday 11:00am to 4:00am. Call Contact info: (036) 288-1466 / (036) 288-1477 for reservations.

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Disclaimer: This post is not an affiliate of Epic Boracay although meals were courtesy of Epic Boracay.
Feel free to visit our Cebu Events blog and Cebu Fashion Blog site

**photos by Kristine Roa and Jay Pascual unless otherwise stated. Reproduction without consent is not allowed.

Choose a 1/4 lb patty, choose your choices of filling such as blue cream cheese, mozarella, Mushroom Pepper Gravy, Cream Cheddar, Hickory BBQ, etc, then ENJOY.

Their bestsellers are the Club Burgers and Burgerella. Priced from 120-190PHP.

BITE CLUB BURGER
D’Mall Boracay Island
Mon – Fri:    11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sat:    8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sun:    10:00 am – 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm – 12:00 am

We also had to pay respects to Boracay Beach Resort who was gracious enough to accommodate us.

Waking up in the morning to this is just right!

More soon! Toodles!

Buhbye Boracay. Sniff.

When we got there to the airport, there was a crowd already piling up in the counter. Turns out a flight from Airphil Express overshot at the runway and caused all flights to delay. We had no choice but to get another flight that is right for us the following day. Yes – we had to get on that damned one hour and a half ride again back to Caticlan because the flight was scheduled to depart in that airport. I am exhausted with complaining already and I found NO sense at all to berate people who clearly have no other ways to placate their customers.

Now the reroute took us to Manila on the 14th and my parents happened were spending Valentines in Makati. Ah, another excuse to go shopping and dine and spend quality time with my parents.

Lunch was at Dulcinea in Greenbelt where I was treated again to try out their bestselling potato soup, callos, steak, gambas and beef tips.

Oh, well. See, there’s always a silver lining at the end of the dark tunnel. I’m pretty sure there are others who were also bumped off in several flights from different airlines and although I really, really wanted to complain, the consolation was this -

Happy Valentines, world.

Read more about our Boracay Island trip in 2012 in the following posts:
Puka Beach Boracay
Mandala Spa and Villas